The Porsche Tax
#31
It doesn't help that many Porsche owners seem to think their cars are unicorns and require special treatment to work and gladly pay these prices. $250 alignments I'm looking at you...
#32
It is annoying but as others have said already, these cars are just made in smaller volume so they're going to demand a premium across the board.
At least the positive, to my experience at least, is that a trip to the dealer for service is leaps and bounds better for Porsche than it is for any other make I've encountered. Even compared to Audi and BMW, which are also on the higher end for dealer service costs. You pay for more, but you do actually seem to get more as well. Not all dealers are the same of course, and much of it is intangible so YMMV. Ultimately I've just come to the point where I accept it.
As far as aftermarket is concerned, a lot of the same concept applies and I'm not the first in this thread to state this. You can't expect a car that is made and sold at 1/10th or less the rate of other cars to cost the same to develop and manufacture, regardless of the standard it's built to. Me personally, part of the reason I was drawn to Porsche in the first place is that you don't need to modify the car, it is fantastic out of the gate from the factory- which ALSO serves to compound the earlier point of volume; it's reasonable to assume that less Porsche owners modify their cars extensively compared to other marques. Obviously this applies less to hardcore track cars, but even those folks probably should have opted for a GT car, which is made for that purpose.
I just realized I've probably already fallen victim to the contractor Porsche tax... but I like my latest contractor so I guess I'll just have to accept that as well.
At least the positive, to my experience at least, is that a trip to the dealer for service is leaps and bounds better for Porsche than it is for any other make I've encountered. Even compared to Audi and BMW, which are also on the higher end for dealer service costs. You pay for more, but you do actually seem to get more as well. Not all dealers are the same of course, and much of it is intangible so YMMV. Ultimately I've just come to the point where I accept it.
As far as aftermarket is concerned, a lot of the same concept applies and I'm not the first in this thread to state this. You can't expect a car that is made and sold at 1/10th or less the rate of other cars to cost the same to develop and manufacture, regardless of the standard it's built to. Me personally, part of the reason I was drawn to Porsche in the first place is that you don't need to modify the car, it is fantastic out of the gate from the factory- which ALSO serves to compound the earlier point of volume; it's reasonable to assume that less Porsche owners modify their cars extensively compared to other marques. Obviously this applies less to hardcore track cars, but even those folks probably should have opted for a GT car, which is made for that purpose.
I just realized I've probably already fallen victim to the contractor Porsche tax... but I like my latest contractor so I guess I'll just have to accept that as well.
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GT3FZS (01-02-2021)
#35
My view is simple. If you're going to own a car like a 911, you need to be prepared for the cost of maintenance and mods (if you want to do that; I like my 2013 C2S Cab just like it is). Prior to buying my 911, I drove BMWs (and we still have a BMW X5 that my wife now calls "the beater" ). Everything service-wise is 3X as much as on a Honda, and the BMW dealer is also the Honda dealer! I will probably use an experienced Indy shop for regular maintenance for my 911, but even so, I'm expecting high prices. It's just the cost of playing the game. Try pricing the monthly membership fee at a nice private country club . . . I figure that since I don't play golf, I can afford the Porsche "tax." If you think Porsche service and parts are overpriced, there's always Nissan GT-R and Chevy Corvette.
John C.
John C.
Last edited by jdcolombo; 12-31-2020 at 01:30 PM.
#37
This is so real, we have gotten 3 quotes for patios. The person that saw into our garage (had the garage door open at the time because we are getting our siding replaced and had one of the bays open as they were working in that area and needed access). Porsche was sitting in the other bay and highly visible. quoted us 45 grand for 600 sq feet of basic pavers, which translates to around 75/sq foot. The other two quotes for the same thing came in at 20k and 25k respectively. (no visibility to the garage) All 3 are very respectable companies but you can imagine who isn't getting the deal.
#40
I would not mind paying a little more if the dealer was going to offer a premium service. Have you ever watched P Tech videos on Youtube? He works at a dealer in Indiana, he does an amazing job and with all the small details. For some reason I don't think most dealerships pay attention to the little things.
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GT3FZS (01-02-2021)
#41
did it for 30 years(bidding job work) bid high and hope U dont get it, bid higher if "difficult" is involved...some people I would decline and give them my competitors name and said they specialized in jobs like this:}}}}}
#42
The issue of getting higher prices for goods and services if you appear to be affluent is Everywhere and on Everything, not just Porsche.
Every vendor, contractor, supplier needs to make a profit to stay in business, and they will charge as much as they feel the market will bear. Those that charge high over market prices will lose business and eventual lower their prices or go out of business. Also note that different locations have different Markets and thus different Market Pricing. Not every location has independent Porsche service shops or "Race shops" available to utilize, so those markets are left to the Porsche Dealer, and they price their services accordingly,....... until their customers start driving the 100+ miles to the indy shop or lower cost Porsche service center. Basic Supply & Demand economics.
So those "Expensive Porsche Upgrade parts" will go on sale if no one is buying them, or if they are "in demand" the price may go up! What is a "Good Value" to some may be seen as a "High Price" to others, as we all have different criteria on what is of "Value"...... its not only the price, as other factors like convenience, location, time, peripheral services, etc all come into play.
No use complaining about it,.... just continue to shop around until the part or service you what is a "good value" per your criteria, then buy it. If its not, then take a pass until it goes on sale or find it elsewhere.
OR... We are all COVID Stir CRAZY and have nothing better to do...????
- Build a home on the Lake and its 50% more than the same home off the lake.
- The same Toyota Part costs more from a Lexus Dealer/Website than it does from Toyota Dealer/Website
- Live in a more expensive neighborhood and you get higher quotes for the same service then the lower cost neighborhood a few blocks away
Every vendor, contractor, supplier needs to make a profit to stay in business, and they will charge as much as they feel the market will bear. Those that charge high over market prices will lose business and eventual lower their prices or go out of business. Also note that different locations have different Markets and thus different Market Pricing. Not every location has independent Porsche service shops or "Race shops" available to utilize, so those markets are left to the Porsche Dealer, and they price their services accordingly,....... until their customers start driving the 100+ miles to the indy shop or lower cost Porsche service center. Basic Supply & Demand economics.
So those "Expensive Porsche Upgrade parts" will go on sale if no one is buying them, or if they are "in demand" the price may go up! What is a "Good Value" to some may be seen as a "High Price" to others, as we all have different criteria on what is of "Value"...... its not only the price, as other factors like convenience, location, time, peripheral services, etc all come into play.
No use complaining about it,.... just continue to shop around until the part or service you what is a "good value" per your criteria, then buy it. If its not, then take a pass until it goes on sale or find it elsewhere.
OR... We are all COVID Stir CRAZY and have nothing better to do...????
Last edited by 981KMAN; 12-31-2020 at 06:19 PM.
The following 5 users liked this post by 981KMAN:
edirtaynine (01-01-2021),
Gripster (01-02-2021),
m5biemer (01-01-2021),
manifold danger (12-31-2020),
Schorsch (01-01-2021)
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Gary JR (01-01-2021)
#44
#45
Rennlist Member
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 1,785
Likes: 159
From: S Carolina coast & N Carolina mountains
Three years now and I have not been back to the dealer yet. Find a good Indy. Mine is online to parts suppliers and get most stuff delivered to him within the hour. Same with my BMWs. My guy at my Indy has 3 M cars himself so he CARES.